André Denk,
Acting Chief Executive
Deputy Chief Executive

EU Member States appointed André Denk as Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) on 5 May 2025 by EU Member States, following a recommendation by the Head of the Agency, Kaja Kallas. His mandate officially starts on 16 May 2025. He is the first high-ranking military official to lead the Agency since its creation. 

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Major General Denk brings with him over three decades of military and operational experience across European and international defence structures. Prior to his appointment, he served as EDA’s Deputy Chief Executive from February 2023, deputising on all matters of political significance and leading the Agency’s work on joint procurement of 155mm ammunition in support of Ukraine and the replenishment of Member States’ stocks. 

 

Before joining the EDA, André Denk served as Director Logistics of the EU Military Staff, where he applied his expertise in strategic-level logistical planning, multinational cooperation, and mission deployment. He previously commanded the Joint School of Logistics in Germany and held various command positions within the Bundeswehr.  

 

Throughout his military career, André Denk undertook numerous international deployments under EU, UN, and NATO mandates, including operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and as Chief of Staff of the EU Training Mission in Mali. 

 

See CV here

Personal information

  • Nationality: German 
  • Date of birth: 20 October 1967

 
Professional career 

  • May 2025 – Present
    Chief Executive, European Defence Agency
  • Feb 2023 – May 2025
    Deputy Chief Executive, European Defence Agency
  • Nov 2020 – Jan 2023
    Director Logistics, EU Military Staff
  • 2019 – 2020
    Commander, Joint School of Logistics, Germany
  • 2016 – 2018
    Head of Protocol at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence
  • 2014 – 2015
    Chief of Staff, EU Training Mission Mali
  • 2009
    International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghanistan
  • 1997
    Stabilisation Force (SFOR), Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • 1995
    United Nations Peace Force (UNPF), Croatia


    • Education

    • 1992
      Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Helmut Schmidt University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany
    • 2001
      General Staff Course at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, Hamburg, Germany
    • 2003
      General Staff Course at the Collège Interarmées de Défense (École de Guerre), Paris, France